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"Who the hell are you?" he asked. He pointed his gun at me. I pointed my pistol at him.
"I am the angel of death come to offer sweet justice in the night," I said. "I am a sign. I am your future. I am James." I pulled back the hammer on my pistol.

This quotation, which occurs in Part Three, Chapter 11 after Jim sets fire to the cornfield at the Graham farm, marks the climax of the novel and the results of Jim’s personal development. Aiming his stolen gun at a white man, Jim challenges the racial hierarchy on every level. He makes a definitive choice to take action on behalf of his family and community, refusing to accept the cruelty of the status quo. The notion of Jim as an “angel” bringing “sweet justice” also emphasizes the righteousness of his actions. Considering the inhumane treatment that so many of the novel’s white masters hand down to their slaves, the white man’s death at Jim’s hand seems morally justifiable. Finally, this moment highlights Jim’s ownership of his new identity as James. While he has mentioned the name James previously, its appearance in this moment of rebellion demonstrates that he is ready to determine his own future. This version of Jim, bold, proud, and strong, is who he ultimately chooses to be.

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